PTA should give xx tickets to the school counselor, families can contact the counselor directly for free tickets. No one else needs to know

Our talent show was held offsite so there were costs involved and required modestly priced tickets. Are any schools large enough to host a talent show that allows parents, etc to attend? I’m pretty sure schools are charged when events are held at larger high schools, etc.

What? Of course the PTO can charge for events. No one is forcing anyone to come to the events. How do you propose they raise money, plan a budget, etc?

I worked at a Title 1 school for 20 years. The FARMS rate was 75%. The PTA sponsored a variety of community events. Some had an entrance fee and some were free. BINGO Night was free to get in, but each game booklet was $5. Earth Day was free, but there was a charge for food. Multicultural Night was free to get in, but you paid for a plate and water bottle.

I would strongly recommend NOT making everyone give a donation for each event.

Anonymous wrote:How do you think the PTA makes money, OP?

Get involved, and you’ll have a better understanding of their budget and expenses. I was on the board of our elementary school PTA for many years, and I was able to influence some decisions on fundraising and services to school families. PTAs exist to help support teachers and students. Ours had a pantry so kids could take food home on weekends and we paid some teachers to stay after school and offer tutoring free of charge to struggling and needy students. We did a lot for the community, and the money had to come from somewhere!

+1. People often complain with no understanding of the budget, time, effort that goes into things. As we always say at work Quick, Cheap, Quality. Pick two.

Nope

First of all, the whole point of an elementary talent show is to show off for your friends. Every single one that I’ve seen through the years has been a free, school-wide assembly held during the day. Second of all, these are elementary kids. No one (FARMS population are not) is going to think these kids are a sufficient draw that community members (outside of their families) are going to want to come see - this is not a viable fundraiser. Thirdly, parents shouldn’t have to pay to see their kids perform, and schools should encourage parent involvement with their kids, not charge them for it. Finally, I can’t imagine a talent show being a financial burden. If, for some reason, the PTA feels they need to offset production costs, they need to scale down their expectations. This shouldn’t be a Broadway production.

How do you think the PTA makes money, OP?

Get involved, and you’ll have a better understanding of their budget and expenses. I was on the board of our elementary school PTA for many years, and I was able to influence some decisions on fundraising and services to school families. PTAs exist to help support teachers and students. Ours had a pantry so kids could take food home on weekends and we paid some teachers to stay after school and offer tutoring free of charge to struggling and needy students. We did a lot for the community, and the money had to come from somewhere!

Instead of being outraged on behalf of those you perceive to be low-income, perhaps give it a minute to see if it’s actually an issue for them.

Teachers at Title I schools can share how even families they perceive to be low-income or actually are FARMs vacation at Disney, fly home to “their country” to visit family, etc.

There’s a process in place to accommodate anyone who asks—just like schools have for field trips, etc.

No need to be outraged unless/until it’s an issue that can’t be addressed.

Anonymous wrote:Who is going to pay for the event of they don't charge for tickets?

What exactly needs to be paid for?

Anonymous wrote:For background, Our elementary school population is 30% FARMS (free reduced meals). Our pta plans to host a talent show in the next week or so. They will be requiring tickets to attend this event which cost $5 per adult and $2 per student. If you cannot afford this charge, you must email a mother who works with the pta who sponsors the event and request a free ticket for your family. I personally find this demeaning and am horrified that they are charging entry to this pta event.

I would like to get feedback from DCUM to see what others think. Is this appropriate? Couldn’t this be donation/ pay what you will in order to make it a fundraising event? Thoughts on this?

I don’t think that charging — or singling out people who want to request free tickets is appropriate. Who is participating in the talent show? If it’s students, then the fees are problematic on many levels — including the “solution “ which sounds humiliating.
Why not have the event be free — but sell raffle tickets for a prize or prizes to be announced at the end of the show? You could also have a donation box — specifying what the donations will be used for. (“Help support the school enrichment activities “ or whatever.)

Who is going to pay for the event of they don't charge for tickets?

Our PTA events always either had an admission price or sold concessions or both. It is a fundraiser and or covering the cost of the event. There was always an option for a free ticket if you could not pay and I think it was just your word versus FARMS status. I get that could be awkward, but I'm pretty sure nobody is giving it much thought.

Ours charges money but it’s a low farms school. I’d email the PTA president or the principal your concerns. I think they are valid. Should be reserve your tickets for free, and off an option of suggested donation.

I can’t remember if our elementary charged for tickets to a talents show, but they definitely didn’t charge anybody $5. I think the way they made money was by selling refreshments.

Surely the PTA already has a list of low income families. They should just give tickets to those families free of charge.

For background, Our elementary school population is 30% FARMS (free reduced meals). Our pta plans to host a talent show in the next week or so. They will be requiring tickets to attend this event which cost $5 per adult and $2 per student. If you cannot afford this charge, you must email a mother who works with the pta who sponsors the event and request a free ticket for your family. I personally find this demeaning and am horrified that they are charging entry to this pta event.

I would like to get feedback from DCUM to see what others think. Is this appropriate? Couldn’t this be donation/ pay what you will in order to make it a fundraising event? Thoughts on this?